AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples today released the following statement regarding the recent decision by the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Board of Directors to raise the water release threshold for Texas rice farmers.

“We cannot ration and restrict our way to a bigger and better Texas. Solutions need to be focused on water for all needs and not restrictions for something as vital as food.

“A crisis exists in Texas as our water capacity has failed to keep up with our growth. This situation has been compounded by the worst single-year drought on record. We must find a balanced solution that allows farmers to continue producing food to feed us while also providing communities with the water to sustain our families. We need to embrace conservation and develop new water supplies necessary to meet our growing population and increasing water demand.”